$3,999.00

For 40 years, Deering Banjo Co. has been at the forefront of banjo innovation, refining the sound of America’s own instrument and expanding the boundaries of its use in all musical genres. In the culmination of their 40th anniversary year long celebration, the Great American Banjo Company adds to its illustrious accomplishments with yet another innovation in the history of banjo. Deering invites you to own a piece of history that serves as a reminder of Greg Deering’s lifelong pursuit to cement the status of the banjo as a true American icon.

Limited to only 40 pieces and featuring a brand new, patent-pending White Oak rim, this banjo is one of the most unique Deering has ever heard. The string response is effortless; crystalline notes ring with the resonance of a church bell, loud and clear, with precise note clarity at on every single fret, a well-known hallmark of all Deering banjos. This sparkling tone is only enhanced by an unparalleled sustain that brings out the best in this instrument’s character. It is simply a delight to play. And here is perhaps the most unique aspect of the 40th anniversary model; it does not feature a tone ring. When you hear it, you will have a hard time believing it. And Deering predicts that many players will appreciate the comparatively lighter weight of this latest innovation in their long history of banjo manufacture.

All 40 banjos feature a white oak neck and resonator and will be individually numbered on the rear of the peg head. A matching White Oak truss rod cap personally signed by Greg Deering adds a finishing touch to the elegant inlays in the peg head while a commemorative inlay adorns the 22nd fret. A ‘AAA’ Grade Smokey ebony fingerboard and tortoiseshell binding on the resonator make this banjo an irresistible addition to any banjo collection.

The first time I played the white oak banjo was quite an experience. Oak reacts different than any other wood I have ever heard in a Banjo. Because the entire banjo is made out of oak it gave me a great opportunity to learn more about the wood and its tonal properties.

Greg and I have tried an oak rim Eagle Banjo with a tone ring a while back and I came, at the time to the conclusion that the wood was hard to support the tone in a favorable way. This new design with no tone ring however, presents very different circumstances.

White oak is very hard and, due to its long fibers, it gives the wood an amazing structural strength. Red oak would be different because it is softer in nature and also develops more open grooves after drying than white oak.

One of the characteristics of a tone ring is that the tone itself feels like it is more together. A tone ring smoothens the banjo tone out and makes the notes more uniform to one another. In a banjo with no heavy ring the tone sometimes feels like there is a lack of substance. Specially in the fundamental note. The fundamental meaning the basic not frequency of the note.

Because maple reacts so well to all the energy input via the head, a maple banjo without a tone ring can become very sweet sounding but could also be a little chaotic in the overtones because of its ability to free motion. Oak is different.

Because of oak being so structurally ridged the wood rim cannot move as freely as a maple ring, which results in a sharper tone than maple. On the other hand it does sound warm and sweet which is the opposite of what happens when maple gets too hard. I have to admit that In this moment and time I don't know exactly why this is. I can only guess that due to the oak's stiffness it almost reacts like there would be a tone ring.

It is definitely loud. It is extremely direct and translates any string movement into sound.

The dynamic range is very wide, that means that soft notes are sweet and quiet and loud notes are really loud and piercing. It almost feels like there is a mute taken off a regular banjo.

- Jens Kruger

These custom banjos are made to order. Once your order is placed you will be contacted regarding estimated build times for these handcrafted limited edition banjos.

$63,719.00

Designed for George Grove of the Kingston Trio a mural of inlay of the dinosaur age made of mother of pearl in white, gold and black, coral, turquoise, cactus, abalone, malachite, several kinds of soap-stones, koa, taugua nut, and rosewood are set into the ebony fingerboard. The neck has an adjustable truss-rod and the truss rod cap is cleverly a part of the peghead inlays. It slips under the head of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. When you order a banjo of this caliber the one request we have is no strict time limits. It takes as long as it takes. Patience brings great rewards. The Banjosaurus is an amazing blend of bright highs and deep bass response from the grenadilla tone ring.

"Pop-on Resonator" is fit with felt covered spring steel brackets that allow the resonator to be popped on or removed easily so that you can instantly change the timbre of your tone. It's great for folk musicians who also play bluegrass.

Priced with a Deering Hardshell Case.

Tone:The Banjosaurus is an amazing blend of bright maple, with deep bass response, being tuned in E, and a balanced warm tone and sustain.Tuned: E,A,E,G#,B in standard tuningCan be capoed at the third fret for standard G tuningCan easily be tuned in other tunings as well

$3,784.00

For the modern banjoist, the Black Diamond breaks with tradition both in the distinctive appearance and in the unique tonal quality. The black mylar head creates a distinctive sounding modern banjo! The dark red mahogany contrasts against the black trim. It is also one of the loudest banjos, that really barks when you want it to.

The Black Diamond has been called elegant, progressive, modern, gorgeous, and sweet. Actually, they are all true. It has a slender mahogany neck that is shaped for easy, comfortable fingering, ideal for large and small hands. If you look closely at the naturally beautiful ebony fingerboard you will see the custom touch of our master luthier's hands in the engraved mother of pearl diamond inlays. The ebony peghead overlay also has a mother of pearl Deering banner and an elegant mother of pearl diamond cluster. Look along the side of the neck and the sides of the resonator and you'll see the delicate stripes of blond maple that artfully contrast to the black binding on the resonator and the dark edge of the ebony fingerboard. The black shiny head and these beautiful features give the Black Diamond a unique tone and progressive look that is both beautiful and irresistible.

The genuine Deering -06-bell bronze tone ring,violin grade three ply maple rim, and one piece cast zinc flange is the same that is used on all of our upper line banjos like the Calico, G.D.L., Ivanhoe etc.The beautiful highs and powerful well rounded bass is the result of the -06- tone ring. Its an excellent performing banjo and a hot looking banjo as well.

$4,079.00

If you want more flexibility in your range, the Long Neck banjo is for you. It can be capoed at the third fret and played as a regular 5-string in the key of G, or left open and played in the key of E. The lower range is great for sing-alongs.

Greg Deering personally plays a long neck banjo in addition to his 5-strings and so he has the understanding to make the greatest long neck banjos in the world.

The Black Diamond Long Neck banjo has an adjustable tropical mahogany neck with a hard, dense, colorful, exotic, and naturally beautiful ebony fingerboard and engraved diamond shaped mother-of-pearl inlays. The ebony fingerboard is polished to a smooth surface making all left hand techniques a pure pleasure. The Deering fret work is super accurate and precise to ensure correct intonation over the entire fingerboard. The adjustable truss rod provides accurate adjustment to maintain the best playability without buzzing. The tuning machines on all Deering banjos are Deering's new super smooth planetary tuners. When you tune your banjo, these tuners will glide easily without any bumps or hesitation, putting the pitch of your strings exactly where you want them every time.

With this banjo you get more volume and clarity than you expect from an open-back. As with all Deering upper line banjos, it comes with a hardshell case.

$2,509.00

Tuned in an E Chord, The Boston Long Neck is easier to sing with for deep voices. Made popular by Pete Seeger and the Kingston Trio the Long Neck banjo has a greater range for all styles of music. The Boston Long Neck is a very stable, good sounding banjo that travels well and isn't as heavy as other more expensive models. The innovative steel rim construction of the drum provides a clear, crisp banjo tone that rings like a bell, records well and plays easily. There are higher-end banjos out there that do have better, warmer sound, but they you won't get one for the cost of a Boston.

$4,889.00

A premium quality world class 5-string banjo that is appreciated for its crisp tone with great highs and distinctive bass response. The Calico is not only beautiful, but it is also exceptionally dynamic with both powerful sound and response providing an excellent tool for all styles of music. At this price point we add two features, we taper the inside of the resonator walls for added projection of tone, and we also add the feature of glued-in frets. Each fret is fitted to the fingerboard and glued in place so that in the future when the frets are worn out, they can easily be replaced without chipping the fingerboard. You will gain these benefits on every model from the Calico on up the line.

The heart of the Deering Calico banjo is the Deering bronze tone-ring, precisely fitted to the three ply maple rim. The Deering -06- tone ring produces a beautiful, balanced overtone spectrum. Its weight is ideal for most styles played on the banjo. A softer touch will provide you with as much sustain as you ever want, a sharper attack will produce a distinct pop and accurate note separation. You will notice no dead spots over the entire fingerboard. The beautiful highs and powerful well rounded bass is the result of intense study of alloys and shapes resulting in superb sound.

Tone:With a brighter tone than mahogany, maple provides a beautiful bass response and great highs. The banjo plays string to string and up the neck at a consistent clarity and excellent volume so it is easily heard amongst a band.

$15,499.00

An openback with punch! Features a wider neck and a bronze Deering -06- tone ring. This banjo can be played for bluegrass, clawhammer, or a blend called Clawgrass, named after the style created by Mark Johnson. For modern clawhammer style players who enjoy jamming in any style of music this powerful openback banjo can hold it's own with a loud, clear bell like tone normally only found in resonator banjos.

The hardware is black nickel plated and engraved. This banjo also features 24 karat gold accents, a hand carved heel, abalone trim, and ivoroid binding. This is a show piece banjo that is as stunning as the beautiful sound it creates. You can enjoy the tone of the Clawgrass banjos played by Steve Martin, Kevin Nealon and Mark Johnson in their many performances.

$4,475.00

The Clawgrass™ No. 2 model is created when Mark Johnson approached Deering with one vision in mind - to offer the same solid foundation, quality, tone and playability of his original, but at a more affordable price point.

The new Deering Clawgrass No. 2 banjo has the same dynamic tone as the original Clawgrass. Using the same peghead and fingerboard inlay designs, rendered in man made materials, Deering has made this lovely banjo much more affordable for the average player.

The much sought after Clawgrass neck width (1.37") is still present on the Clawgrass No. 2, which also features standard nickel plating unlike its hand engraved, 24K gold plated sibling. The banjo gets its finishing touches from simpler yet equally as elegant binding on the neck, peghead, and rim.

$11,999.00

An open back banjo with a deeper 4" rim, the depth of a minstrel banjo, is what story teller and Grammy award-winner, David Holt has been playing since 1988. Requests for one like his inspired the David Holt Tree of Life model which harkens back to the sound of a minstrel banjo.

This banjo is light weight, only 8 lbs, because it has the Grenadillo wood tone ring and no flange nor resonator and so is easy to perform with for hours. The deep 3-ply violin grade maple rim and grenadillo tone ring create a warmth and richness all it's own. It's great for singing and storytelling. It has a beautiful curly maple neck that is elegantly carved with a vine and stained to a rich warm brown. The rim is bound with decorative purfling and ivoroid binding inside and out. The metal parts are plated with durable chrome plating that will have a brand new appearance for years to come. The georgeous Tree of Life inlay is sterling silver with mother of pearl flowers and abalone leaves. The colorful flowers are placed on the fingerboard as fret markers. It is a magnificent banjo that is made to be enjoyed and played and passed on as a cherished heirloom for future generations to carry on the family's music.

$3,479.00

Now featuring a walnut neck, the Deering Deluxe truly stands out as a banjo with it's own tone. The walnut neck gives the banjo a perfect balance of brightness and warmth. When paired with our -06- bell bronze tone ring, the Deluxe comes alive and gives you a banjo that will stand out from the pack.

Built with Deering's genuine bell bronze tone ring, three ply violin grade maple rim and one piece, cast, zinc resonator flange, this Deluxe is as easy to play as it is beautiful.

The mother of pearl inlay in the peghead, is the very first Deering logo designed by Greg Deering for his first banjo in 1969. The multicolor binding and high gloss finish enhance the gold and perloid inlays on the exotic, natural ebony fingerboard. "The inspiration for the inlay artwork comes from the early Boston banjo masters. And if you look at the peghead of the Deluxe, it has some of the same elements as the Sierra, but it is much more expanded and it comes alive with the turn of the century Boston masters element - and that was just the design that flowed out onto the page. It's a lot of fun to have that kind of artwork on a banjo that people can afford. The first professional banjo we made was the Deluxe so it always has a very dear spot to us because it was the first professional banjo we made way back in '79." Greg Deering

One of Deering's oldest and most popular models, this banjo brings the power, easy playability and maintenance together in a beautiful, historically important banjo that is just as much at home on the front porch as it is on the road. It truly is a Deluxe banjo.

$2,679.00

The Eagle II banjo represents the latest in tone ring innovation from the collaborative efforts of Greg Deering and Jens Kruger. It features the ground breaking patented Twenty Ten Tone Ring; a Deering original crafted unlike any other traditional tone ring. Made of brass and producing a tone with a very rich mid-range and good bass and treble response, the most unique feature of the Eagle II banjo is that it is suitable to both clawhammer/frailing and bluegrass, among other styles. Rarely has there ever been a tone ring model that could claim this but customers who own the Eagle II have proclaimed its utmost versatility in this respect. Whether you are a professional or a dedicated banjo enthusiast, the Eagle II will help you soar to new heights!

$2,999.00

Our newest and most affordable professional grade resonator 5-string banjo. The Eagle II banjo is a whole new breed of banjo. It features the ground breaking Kavanjo® banjo pickup system allowing you to play on any stage with a true banjo tone and without the worry of feedback earlier banjo pickups have had.

This banjo also features the patent pending Twenty-Ten Tone Ring which is a completely original Deering design that is unlike any other traditional tone ring. It produces a high quality sound that is versatile for many styles of playing. While the sound is uniquely Eagle, it represents a refinement in the quality of banjo tone, something that allows the player to soar to new heights. It is perfect for the player who wants a professional quality banjo that he can use for playing many styles of music.

Played by Winston Marshall of Mumford & Sons and Will Champlin.

Contact one of our dealers to experience the Eagle II A/E banjo today!

Neck:

Maple Stained a Dark Red Mahogany

Natural Ebony Fingerboard

22 Pressed In Nickel Silver Frets

Original Eagle Engraved Inlays

Slender Deering Neck Shape

Fully Adjustable Truss Rod

Planetary Banjo Tuners

Geared 5th String Peg

Gloss Finish

Pot:

Deering Patent Pending Twenty-Ten Tone Ring

Kavanjo® Banjo PickupThree-Ply Violin Grade Maple Rim

True Tone Deering Tailpiece

Deering Brass Notched Tension Hoop

11″ Top Frosted Medium Crown Head

24 Round Hooks and ¼″ Hex Nuts

24 Bracket Shoes

Eagle 2-Piece Flange

Slender Shaped Armrest5/8" Maple Bridge With Ebony Top

Nickel Plated Hardware

Resonator:

Maple Stained Red Mahogany

White Binding

Straight Inside Resonator Sidewalls

Gloss Finish

Includes a Deering Hardshell Case

Tone:

A strong mid range tone with good bass and vibrant highs, that is versatile for playing both Clawhammer and Bluegrass styles of playing.

Tuned:g,D,G,B,D in standard tuningCan easily be tuned in other tunings as well.

Dimensions:

Neck Width at the Nut 1 1/4″

Scale Length Nut to Bridge 26 1/4″

Resonator diameter 13 7/8″

Overall Instrument Length 38″

Weight Approx. 10 lbs

Warranty:The trust and pride we share in our product gives us the confidence to grant every owner of a Deering banjo a Lifetime Warranty ensuring the quality of our materials and workmanship

$6,999.00

Beautiful exotic walnut with abalone & ivoroid trim, The G.D.L. (Greg Deering Limited) banjo carries Greg's namesake because he really enjoys the understated elegance of this model. Combining the beauty of the tone of walnut with the aesthetic elegance of the hand set abalone trim along the edges of the fingerboard and resonator sides, this banjo is more affordable while featuring the artistry and sparkle that is as beautiful as its tone. California grown English Walnut gives you the blend of crisp clear tone with a beautiful touch of sweetness.

The precise hand work that goes into our upperline banjos is something rarely found in today's fast paced world. It's an investment you'll be glad you made every time you play it. English Walnut provides a very bright, yet sweet sounding powerful professional banjo that has instant response and clear bell tone.

$32,199.00

The ultimate combination of luxurious beauty and incredible sound - the sparkle of the mother of pearl fingerboard is breath-taking like opening a box of jewels when you open the case and the tone of the Gabriella is outstanding. The Gabriella is the very top of the Deering line. We reserve the most highly figured English walnut for the neck and rare pieces of exotic burl walnut veneer for the resonator. The beautiful burl veneer on the resonator is the same veneer as used on the inside of a Rolls Royce.

The beautiful hand crafted and carved walnut neck has a genuine mother-of-pearl fingerboard and vine peg-head inlay. The frets are seated in ebony with the precision of a master craftsman and the pearl of the fingerboard is also set into the ebony so precisely it looks like the frets are set in the pearl. The pearl fingerboard and the nickel silver frets are polished to provide a luxurious playing experience.

Only the finest components become a Gabriella banjo. Also, along the edges of the neck and resonator the ivoroid binding is accentuated with multicolored trim of handset abalone shell. The neck is fully adjustable, as are all Deering necks, with our two way adjustable truss rod.

To top it off, back of the banjo has an elaborate vine of raised and carved maple and mother-of pearl encircling the exotic walnut resonator back. Each banjo of this caliber is signed personally by Greg and his top craftsmen on the serial number label inside.

Tone: The Gabriella has a smaller air chamber than the Golden Era or the Tenbrooks banjos which gives it a very responsive poppy sound with excellent note separation. The banjo plays string to string and up the neck at a consistent clarity and volume. In ordering a Gabriella banjo you can choose between our highest grade of walnut, maple, or koa. Each Gabriella we build is a unique work of art that brings hours of musical enjoyment when played and aesthetic enjoyment for it's beauty wherever it is displayed. The pearl fingerboard ads a distinctive brilliance to the tone of the Gabriella.

Tuned: G,D,G,B,D in standard tuningCan easily be tuned in other tunings as well.

$8,699.00

Top of the line, prewar style with 24 Karat Gold Deering inlay in the peghead, the Golden Classic is the ultimate compliment to traditional players who prefer the feel of older necks and the great bluegrass sound of Flatt & Scruggs.

Applying Greg Deering's wealth of knowledge of how to create the finest banjos and combining that with traditional parts and dimensions he has elevated the craft to produce that original bluegrass sound.

Tone: The Golden Series banjos have a larger air chamber than the other Deering models which gives the banjos a more resonant hollow sound with deeper bass response for a traditional bluegrass sound. With longer sustain than mahogany, maple provides a beautiful bass response and great highs.The banjo plays string to string and up the neck at a consistent clarity and volume.

Tuned:G,D,G,B,D in standard tuningCan easily be tuned in other tunings as well.

Dimensions:Neck Width at the Nut 1 1/4″Scale Length Nut to Bridge 26 1/4″Resonator diameter 13 7/8″Overall Instrument Length 38″Instrument Weight 11lbsLifetime Warranty: The trust and pride we share in our product gives us the confidence to grant every owner of a Deering banjo a Lifetime Warranty ensuring the quality of our materials and workmanship.

$4,849.00

A maple, prewar style bluegrass banjo made like the classic banjos of the 1930's with the same materials and the same weight, design and features, the Golden Era is one of our most popular banjos for traditional bluegrass bands. If you're looking for that classic bluegrass banjo tone and look - this is the banjo for you. Adorned with a traditional hearts & flowers inlay pattern, this banjo has the appearance and feel of the prized banjos from the 1930's. It is designed to produce the most sought-after sound, a sound previously only achieved by five-string banjos of the pre-war era. This beautiful banjo has a Genuine Deering -06- 20-hole bell bronze tone ring. The drum assembly and neck shape are designed for the traditional crisp and strong bass notes as well as the distinct clear high tones of the cherished bluegrass sound.

Tone:The Golden Era has a larger air chamber like the Tenbrooks banjos which gives the banjos a more resonant hollow sound with deep bass response for a traditional prewar bluegrass sound. Clear, bright highs and resonant deep bass notes.

$14,499.00

We reserve the most highly figured walnut for the neck and rare pieces of exotic burl walnut veneer for the resonator. The beautiful burl veneer on the resonator is the same veneer as used on the inside of a Rolls Royce. The inside walls of the resonator are carved for loud and clear projection of the wonderful tone.

The Ivanhoe is a beautiful gold plated & engraved slender and fast playing banjo with a quick response that is perfect for melodic playing with a sweet yet bright tone that projects well and enhances all musical styles. Versatile and comfortable, the Ivanhoe is a favorite amongst performers who like the fast Deering neck shape and smaller sound chamber.

You'll find superb craftsmanship in every aspect of the Ivanhoe, from the triple bound peg-head to the hand-carved heel and the superbly engraved gold plated metal parts. It has an intricately pierced armrest accented with elegant floral engraving. It is a work of art that will be treasured for generations to come. With the exceptional tone, quality and feel of the neck it's more than just a show piece, it's a banjo player's dream come true.

$15,799.00

This began as the Top model of the Tenbrooks line before being included in the Artist Series. It is made with violin grade maple because of the musical qualities of this wood and it features a radiused ebony fretboard. Jens prefers stainless steel frets because of the durability of the stainless steel. The frets wear longer before needing to be replaced. Before switching to stainless steel frets, Jens, who plays an average of 8 hours per day, was having his banjos re-fretted every 6 months. With stainless steel frets he has played for almost 2 years before having the banjo re-fretted; getting three times the playing life out of the frets!

The radiused fingerboard fits the curve of the fingers over the playing surface making it just that much more effortless to travel the fingerboard.

The Jens Kruger model has significant resonance and clarity, elevating it to the caliber of orchestral instruments. The Jens Kruger banjo is designed to unlock the creativity for the dedicated musician.

Neck:

Dark Red Mahogany Stained Violin Grade Maple Neck

Radiused Ebony Fingerboard

22 Durable Stainless Steel Frets

Adjustable Truss Rod

Grafaloy Nut

Slender Neck for precise playing

Spikes installed at 7 & 9th frets

Deering Planetary Tuners

Deering Geared 5th String Tuner

High Gloss

Pot:

Kruger Tone Ring

Precision machined Tenbrooks style 3-ply Maple Rim

Deering Brass Notched Tension Hoop

11″ Medium Crown Frosted Top Head

24 Round Hooks with ¼″ Hex Nuts

Tenbrooks Gold plated Zinc Flange

Gold Plated Hardware

Premium Hand Engraved Metal Parts

Hand Engraved and Pierced Armrest

Deering True-Tone Tailpiece

11/16″ Signature Maple Ebony Bridge

Resonator:

A Deep resonator made of Curly Maple

Resonator stained Dark Red Mahogany

Ivoroid Binding

High Gloss Finish

Includes a Deering Hardshell Case

Tone:

This banjo represents an achievement in banjo tone, having removed all the unwanted overtones, resulting in a banjo that is orchestral grade, with enough sustain for slow songs and clarity of note separation when it is played hard and fast. It has consistent clarity and volume up and down the neck and string to string. It fully resonates deep bass notes and sweet clear highs such that no note is suppressed and music flows freely from this alive and vibrant instrument.

Dimensions:

Neck Width at the Nut 1 1/4″

Scale Length Nut to Bridge 26 1/4″

Resonator diameter 13 7/8″

Overall Instrument Length 38″

Lifetime Warranty:

The trust and pride we share in our product gives us the confidence to grant every owner of a Deering banjo a Lifetime Warranty ensuring the quality of our materials and workmanship.

$4,299.00

Now featuring a radiused fingerboard! A radiused fingerboard is an arched fingerboard which you will find on most electric and modern acoustic guitars. This arch fits the fold of your hand better and makes it easier for both your left and right hand to play the banjo.

Curly maple wood, -06- tone ring, and flower inlays are the other key elements of the Deering Maple Blossom banjo. Maple Blossom is made from eastern violin grade curly maple, stained with a dark walnut stain, and adorned with flower mother of pearl inlays. When this individually selected wood is built into a banjo with the genuine Deering -06-bronze tone ring, 3-ply violin grade maple rim, and one piece zinc flange, the result is a banjo that is so bright, crisp and clear that every note pops out of this banjo with precision and power.

The Deering -06- tone ring produces a beautiful, balanced overtone spectrum. Its weight is ideal for most styles played on the banjo. A softer touch will provide you with as much sustain as you ever want, a sharper attack will produce a distinct pop and accurate note separation. You will notice no dead spots over the entire fingerboard. The beautiful highs and powerful well rounded bass is the result of intense study of alloys and shapes which resulted in the new -06- tone ring you hear in the great tone of the Maple Blossom banjo today.

$3,209.00

Finally! A banjo that can be played at any volume. The new Sierra Acoustic/Electric banjo features the factory installed Kavanjo banjo head pickup system. This system allows your banjo to be plugged into a guitar amp and played at screaming levels without feedback while still maintaining its acoustic tone.

Tone:With the standard Mahogany, the Sierra has the sweet sound of mahogany with less sustain than maple or walnut.With optional Maple, at no extra cost, the Sierra has a brighter and crisper professional quality tone that is easy to play with clarity and good note separation

Tuned:g,D,G,B,D in standard tuningCan easily be tuned in other tunings as well.

$2,889.00

Our most popular professional grade banjo for almost 30 years. We are proud to manufacture the Sierra as affordably as possible and still retain all of the high end features that affect the tone and playability. Simple detailing allows us to keep the cost down, while still giving you all the important components of a high quality banjo.

Tone: With the standard Mahogany, the Sierra has the sweet sound of this tropical wood with slightly less sustain than maple or walnut. With the optional Maple at no extra cost, the Sierra is also available with a brighter and more focused tone quality.

$2,469.00

Our most popular and affordable professional grade banjo now available as an openback. Greg Deering knows what it feels like to want a professional banjo and not be able to afford it, so this has become the flagship of our line. We make the Sierra affordable and you get all the most important features that affect the tone and playability. Simple detailing allows us to keep the cost down, while still giving you all the important components of a high quality banjo. The Sierra is our flagship banjo, read what Greg Deering says in "More Details" below...

Neck:

Mahogany - Now Available in Maple and Walnut

Natural Ebony Fingerboard

22 Pressed In Nickel Silver Frets

Original Deering Designed Engraved Inlays

Slender Deering Neck Shape

Fully Adjustable Truss Rod

Deering Planetary Banjo Tuners

Deering Geared 5th String Peg

Satin Finish

Pot:

Deering -06- 20 Hole Bell Bronze Tone Ring

Three-Ply Violin Grade Maple Rim

True Tone Deering Tailpiece

Deering Brass Notched Tension Hoop

11″ Top Frosted Medium Crown Head

24 Round Hooks and ¼″ Hex Nuts

Tube Flange

Slender Shaped Armrest

Nickel Plated Hardware

Satin Finish

Includes a Deering Hardshell Case

Tone:With the standard Mahogany, the Sierra has the sweet sound of mahogany with less sustain than maple or walnut. With optional Maple, at no extra cost, the Sierra has a brighter and crisper professional quality tone that is easy to play with clarity and good note separation.

Tuned:g,D,G,B,D in standard tuningCan easily be tuned in other tunings as well.

Dimensions:

Neck Width at the Nut 1 1/4″

Scale Length Nut to Bridge 26 1/4″

Overall Instrument Length 38″

Weight Approx. 11 lbs

Warranty:The trust and pride we share in our product gives us the confidence to grant every owner of a Deering banjo a Lifetime Warranty ensuring the quality of our materials and workmanship

$8,059.00

Made of mahogany, the Legacy delivers a sweet, warm sound with an uninhibited musicality that effortlessly reaches the audience with a pure and balanced tone, amazingly pleasing to the ear and heralding a whole new musical realm for the world of banjo.The Legacy has a classical Art Deco feel to the inlay pattern, another Greg Deering original design.

The Legacy is a wonderful professional level banjo that is a racehorse for the performing musician and dedicated banjo enthusiast, an effortless and instantly versatile tool for boundless musical creativity. The comfortable neck is made for precise playing, and it features glued in frets for easy re-fretting for the artist who plays a lot.

The Legacy provides a limitless musical playing field, alive with clear and balanced tone from bass to treble on each and every fret. It's a pure pleasure to play.

The vibrant and sweet, fully resonant tone with deep full bass and clear crisp highs. The banjo rings true throughout the whole range of the instrument with the sweet, warm tone of mahogany that carries loud and clear to the audience.

The ebony fingerboard and the nickel silver frets are polished to a high lustre to eliminate fret noise and provide a luxurious playing experience.

Tuned: G,D,G,B,D in standard tuning

Can easily be tuned in other tunings as well.

Includes a Deering Hardshell Case

Dimensions:Neck Width at the Nut 1 1/4″

Scale Length Nut to Bridge 26 1/4″

Resonator Diameter 13 7/8″

Overall Instrument Length 38″

Warranty:

The trust and pride we share in our product gives us the confidence to grant every owner of a Deering banjo a Lifetime Warranty ensuring the quality of our materials and workmanship

$8,929.00

Crisp Maple with a brilliant full bodied tone, deep bass, brilliant highs, The Saratoga Star is one of the most elegantly beautiful modern banjos to enter the musical arena of classic instruments. Greg Deering personally designed the inlays with an Art Nouveau style in mind. Reminiscent of the Victorian Era, this high grade maple banjo stands out as a top of the line professional instrument, at home on the concert stages throughout the world. It is played by world renowned banjoists like Bela Fleck, 2007 IBMA Banjo Player of the Year - Tony Trischka, Joe Bonsal of the Oak Ridge Boys, and Ned Luberecki.

From Bluegrass to Country, Rock to Classical, this is one of the ultimate banjos made today. Crafted with the precision of every Tenbrooks banjo out of highly figured violin grade maple for the ultimate tonal power and sparkle. It is so alive with sound that you can feel the vibrations through the back of the banjo as you play. The sound carries clearly greater distances than other banjos. This banjo is for the dedicated musician who appreciates versatility in communicating with the audience through music.

Resonator:Deep Resonator Made of Curly MapleResonator Sides Are Specially Tapered On the Inside For Projection of ToneStained a Deep Red BrownHighly Polished Finish

Tone: The Saratoga Star resounds with a brilliant full bodied tone with deep bass and brilliant highs. It has a pleasing clarity and balance on every string up and down the entire fingerboard. The full Tenbrooks banjo design, materials and dimensions create this maple banjo that brings out all the best tone from the wood and precisely created metal parts so that this instrument rings true with a sweet clarity and uninhibited musicality.

$20,099.00

An Heirloom Banjo - The Texas Banjo commemorates the 150th year anniversary of Texas' independence from Mexico. Only 151 Texas banjos will be made, each with a serial number representing one of the years between 1836 and 1986. You can choose, from remaining numbers, a year that has meaning in your life for your distinctive number. The Texas banjo is designed and marketed by Tony Ullrich of Houston.

We hand craft it in our Custom Shop - a one of a kind treasure, 24-Karat gold plated. It's an investment in your musical heritage that can enjoyed and passed along. It can carry the love of music and heritage of Texas to inspire new generations.

Resonator:Curly Walnut ResonatorState of Texas inlayed in the back with"Texas" Branded with a branding iron across the StateThe names of famous Texans Inlaid and Raised and Carved along the Outside of the Resonator Sides: Austin, Houston, Bowie, and Crocket, Fannin, Lamar, Milam, Travis - Raised and Carved along the outside of the Resonator SidesIvoroid Binding with Hand-set Abalone Shell TrimInside of the Resonator is Specially Tapered for Projection of ToneHigh Gloss Finish Includes a Deering Hardshell Banjo Case

Tone:The Texas has a smaller air chamber than the Golden Era or the Tenbrooks banjos which gives it a very responsive poppy sound with excellent note separation. Made of Walnut, the Texas banjo has the bright sound of maple combined with the sweet tone of mahogany. It is the best of both worlds. The banjo plays string to string and up the neck at a consistent clarity and volume.

$15,489.00

Tree of Life banjo is Greg Deerings modern intreptation of the old S.S. Stewart Tree of Life inlay pattern extended and embellished on the peghead to create a uniquely Deering look. It represents a celebration of the beauty and artistry of banjos of old combined with the improved construction techniques which give you a modern banjo that plays as great as it looks.

The Tree of Life inlay pattern is a beautiful sterling silver vine inlay with abalone flower inlays at the position marker locations and mother of pearl leaf inlays along the rest of the fingerboard. The abalone flowers make finding hand positions easy.

It is an heirloom banjo that will gain in value each year that goes by and an investment you can enjoy every day of your life.

Tone: The Tree of Life has a smaller air chamber than the Golden Era or the Tenbrooks banjos which gives it a very responsive poppy sound with excellent note separation. The banjo plays string to string and up the neck at a consistent clarity and volume.The Maple construction creates a bright tone with excellent bass.

Tuned:g,D,G,B,D in standard tuning. Can easily be tuned in other tunings as well.

$2,119.00

Uniquely Deering, The Boston banjo breaks with tradition and provides a professional quality sound at a lower price point by creating the drum from 3/16″ rolled steel which rings like a tone ring and upgrading the accuracy of tuning with guitar style tuners with a higher gear ratio. The uniquely Deering inlay pattern gives you visual beauty enhancing the great performance.

Tone:Has the sweet sound of mahogany with less sustain than a maple or walnut banjo.Crisp highs and good bass response with less overtones than many banjos.Easy to play with clarity of note separation. Great for recording.

$4,829.00

A mahogany prewar style bluegrass banjo with that J.D. Crowe sound, the Golden Wreath is a banjo made of higher quality materials and workmanship. The Deering -06- Bronze Tone Ring is unplated to enhance the resonance and create a mahogany bluegrass banjo with all the power and punch needed for stage performance.

The Golden Wreath is a traditional design of the classic banjos made in the 1930's. The Golden Wreath features a fuller mahogany neck and a deeper resonator with high gloss finish, a unplated bell bronze Deering-06- 20-hole tone ring, the hard, dense, colorful, exotic, and, naturally beautiful ebony fingerboard and peghead.

Resonator:Deep resonator of MahoganyIvoroid Binding with Black/White TrimTwo Concentric Black/White Rings Adorn the Back of the ResonatorResonator Sides are Specially TaperedHigh Gloss Finish

Includes a Deering Hardshell CaseTone: The Golden Series Banjos have a larger air chamber than the other Deering models which gives the banjos a more resonant hollow sound with deeper bass response for a traditional bluegrass sound.

Tuned:g,D,G,B,D in standard tuning,Can easily be tuned in other tunings as well.

Lifetime Warranty: The trust and pride we share in our product gives us the confidence to grant every owner of a Deering banjo a Lifetime Warranty ensuring the quality of our materials and workmanship.

$4,999.00

You get two full scales on the 24 Fret John Hartford Banjo and the added length of the neck moves the bridge to the center of the head giving a more rounded full bodied tone!

The 24 Fret John Hartford model – a new sound in a full bodied banjo that gives you two full scales up the fingerboard. This Hartford has a big round tone that is full bodied with great bass and sweet highs. With the -06- tone ring and 24 frets it has a more distinct bell like ring to it, with the Grenadillo tone ring it has a more woody ringing tone.

Both choices of tone ring give that distinct round and fruity John Hartford style of sound.

$4,779.00

People ask why we have a non standard inlay pattern on this banjo. It was once the standard pattern and fairly common to just have the inlays grouped right in the middle and out on the ends of the fingerboard. Some of the old banjos like the Farland, and some of those old banjos made before 1900 had this, so John asked us to do that. John was a licensed river boat captain and wanted us to put some sort of a riverboat theme into his banjo. And again, we were kind of stumped a little bit, not wanting to just put inlays of riverboats in the fingerboard. Then we had a really neat opportunity because when Chuck, our head craftsman and artist who has been with us over 30 years now, was growing up and learning to play music his main banjo hero was John Hartford. Chuck grew up in Minnesota and when John Hartford would come to town to play he would never miss a concert and he thought John Hartford was the coolest musician. The idea that he would someday be making a banjo for John Hartford was beyond his wildest dreams so I gave the job of designing the inlays to Chuck.

Chuck started studying riverboats and reading a lot. He went to the library and found all the books he could about riverboats. He discovered that there is a whole classic architecture of riverboats that's significantly different than the architecture that goes into houses. People think that the gingerbread on a riverboat is the same as on the house but it is actually distinctly and identifiably different. The ratio of the length to width and the style of the scrolls that go into the riverboat architecture are different than what is on a gingerbread house, a Victorian period house. So Chuck took the riverboat architecture and used that classic form to develop inlays for the Hartford banjo. It ended up having a very riverboat type of flavor because it uses that architecture and that art form without having to have pictures of riverboats on it. We accomplished a really classic design for John and Chuck was able to have a wonderful time working with John on the inlay.

When John Hartford passed away we changed the nameplate on the fingerboard from mother of pearl to abalone in the fingerboard. So if you find a Hartford with a white mother of pearl name plate it was built before he passed away. If it has abalone it was made after his passing.

There is an even lighter weight version - the Hartford Pop-On Resonator banjo which is convertible from openback to bluegrass style by popping on the resonator. (replacing the 2 lb flange with a brass tube) - Greg Deering